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Diverging Policy Responses

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The Covid-19 Pandemic and Global Bioethics

Part of the book series: Advancing Global Bioethics ((AGBIO,volume 18))

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Abstract

The current pandemic has reactivated ancient metaphors (especially military ones) but also initiated a new vocabulary: flattening the curve, social distancing, lockdown, self-isolation, and sheltering in place. In this chapter, policy responses to Covid-19 are examined. The epicenter of the first wave of Covid-19 is China and other Asian countries, then moving to Europe and North America, and next to Latin America. This movement in principle leaves time for preparation and exchange of experiences so that policies can be adapted and refined. In practice, however, learning effects are slow and limited, and policy responses diverse and heterogeneous. The question is why such varieties occur. All countries are faced with similar challenges, particularly the need for testing, shortages of protective equipment, and lack of coordination and coherence. Nonetheless, every country is inventing the wheel and experiences in other countries are hardly taken into account. More astonishing is that even exposure to the first wave of the pandemic does not much improve policy responses to subsequent waves.

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  1. Department of Bioethics, Anahuac University, Mexico City, Mexico

    Henk ten Have

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ten Have, H. (2022). Diverging Policy Responses. In: The Covid-19 Pandemic and Global Bioethics. Advancing Global Bioethics, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91491-2_4

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